Frictional transmission mechanism



May s, 1924'. Y

O. H. SPENCER l lFRICTIONAL TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Filed May 2 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 x IN VEN TOR.

OME/Y H SP5/vas@ May 6 1924. 1,492,863

A o. H. SPENCER FRICTIONAL TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Filed May 2, 1922 3 sheets-sheet 2 9 INVENTOR.

@New h. SP5/vane May 6 1924.

O. H. SPENCER FRICTIONAL TRANSMISSION MECHANISM Filed May 2, 1922 s sheets-sheet s FIG?.

INVENTOR.

OHEH H. Spece @ab Patented May 6, 1924.

- UNITI-:n Ys 'rf-Ares OWEN H. SPENCER, ,or iNnI'ANAPoLrsQINDIANA.

rnIc'rIoNAL 'rnANsinissioN i'n'io'mfnisnt.` f

A Application filed May 2,

To aZZ whom it may cof/wcm.' v V v Be it known that I, OWEN H. SPENCER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis,in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new vand `useful Improvements in Frictional Transmission Mechanisms, of'which `the fol- .l

lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to'frictional transmission mechanisms and is more especially suited for use in 'the propulsion ofv motor vehicles, and consists substantially in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and i pointed out particularlyvin the claims. Y

An object of this invention is to provide' a simple and reliable means for transmitting motion and power from the driving members to the driven members of a self propelled vehicle in a smooth, quiet and effective manner, which will enable the operatorto manually vary the relation of speeds between said driving and driven members, and change the direction of rotation of the ldriven members, without the use of toothed gearing.

It is also an object of this invention, to'u obtain a direct engagement between the said driving and driven members, when a ve'- hicle is thus propelled at so called high speed, whereby. the use of the frictional parts'of the mechanism are not required."

It is a primary vfeature of this invention to provide a master drive Wheel, convenientlythe motor 'fly wheel, with what I call an interior conical surfacein its rim, to receive tangently, one or more, preferably two, external conical or'` circular corresponding surfaces, said external conical or circular surfaces being the edges ofv one or more disc wheels which aierevolvable respectively about a line transverse to the motor drive shaft, an object of this feature being that thesame exertion which positions the said' circular external conical surfaces in frictional contact with said interior conical surface, is partly deflected toward the center line of themotor drive shaft, and thus said tension may be compensated to also confiney or interlock a driven friction wheel between said disc wheels, thus held intangential contact `with same, by which combination the operator of the vehicle so vpropelled may hold all the frictional surfaces of the mechanism in use by the operation of a single lever or foot pedal,A preferably foot pedal,

1922 serial No. 557,9so.v f Y f regardless of ununiform wear vorfirregularil tiesl in said frictional surfaces.

The above and other objects are attained- Y by the structure illustrated; in thefaccomvpanying drawings, in which-'Figifl is a sectional plan view of Vmy frictional transmis-f" sionmechanism, mounted. on al suitableve-f hicle chassis, showing the parts varranged for Adirect drive." Fig. 2 is a similar fview show-` ing -the parts arranged for intermed'iateor cri lower'speed forward. YInl this view the ,V

chassis portion isA broken` away, showing only theadjacent members of same. 'Fig'. 3

is a similarview Yshowing the'position'of, f

theparts for reverse` drive. Fig. 4f is a similar view, showing the-partsv attheneutral point.' Fig. 5 is a fral'gmentary.side elevation of Fig. l, illustrating the application 'y of my frictional transmission mechanism to the vehicle as a whole. Fig.,6 isa sectional elevation near line 6 6 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 7 'isa detail elevation showing l the neutral adjustment of the vfriction irvheelfv actuating parts. j L

Referring to characters' of reference', l 1 designates the frame fof the .motor vehicle, said frame varying in size and construction,

asV desired. l The motor shaftzQfand the driven {shaft 3, are inairial alinement,and independently revolvable. aboutl a medial line oflthe'frame l, as shownrin; Fig. ll, Fig. 2',

Fig; 3,`Fig. 4 and Fig.y 6, andare disposed ,i

in `an end to end' relationshipin they hub of thefly wheel, said iy wheelbeing secured to the motorY shaft 2, and rota-ting,constant-YV ly therewith. The driven shaft, is loosely pivoted at itsforward end, in the'hub of i lcc flywheel 4, and isf free to revolve or remain' stationary, independent of said ily wheel. The other end of.V said driven shaft being Aconnected through-the differential 5,7to thev rearwheels 6, of the vehicle.

Positioned opposite-the flywheel 4, and adapted to. coact therewith, under certain conditions, is the cylindrical frictionw-heel 7, which Vis `splined-to the driven shaft 3, and'is adapted to slide longitudinallythereon, and rotate constantly therewith. Said friction wheel` is r constructed to, form, on Vits forward side, the male portion or plug 8, of f a usual cone clutclnthe female portion orseat 9, of said clutch being formedin the.

rim ofily wheel 4. Y

When said clutch is in engagement `as shown in Fig. `lfand Fig. 5, t e *vehicle would-be propelled at what is usually known as high speed, a direct drive being thus effected from the motor drive shaftv 2, tothe driven shaft 3, and said driven shaft revolves substantially as a unit with motor shaft 2.

About a line transverse to the driven shaft 3, are the revolvable Vintermediate disc wheels 10, the outer edgesY of which are beveled and the inner vertical iat faces of which stand adjacentto the periphery of friction wheel 7, said disc wheels being movable transversely to their axes, whereby the bevel surfaces of same are brought into contact with the corresponding interior conical surface 11, of the fly wheel 4, and movable longitudinally into contact with the friction wheel 7, said longitudinal movement being caused by thetendency of the disc wheels 1.0, to shift sideways, and thus to become wedged toward each other, or interlocked, when held in contact with interior conical surface 11, vof fly wheel 4. As a means of operating said disc wheels in this manner, the trunnions 12, of the disc wheels 10, are respectively journaled in the rock arms 13, which are movable about their pivots 14, by the foot lever 15, through a common yokev member 16. The pivots 14 are fixed tothe frame 1.

When the vehicle is propelled at any other than high speed, or the direction of travel reversed, the motor power is transmitted from the y wheel 4, through the intermediate disc wheels 10, to the friction wheel 7, andthus to the driven shaft 3.V

The speed of travel of the vehicle is relative to the distance between the centers of disc wheels 10, and their respective points of contact with the friction wheel 7, and in reversing the-direction of travel of the vehicle the frictionl wheel 7 is slid longitudinally back beyond the centers of the disc wheels 10, away from the Hy wheel 4,v as shown in Fig. 3. As a means of shifting the friction wheel 7 to a desirable position along the driven shaft 3, I have provided a ring 17, outwardly disposed on the rear end of the hub of the friction wheel 7, and retained loosely in this relation by a circular groove. Rin@ 17 is pivoted tothe connecting rods 18, by suitable joints 19, the other ends, respectively, of said connecting rods are pivoted to the arms 20, of the manually operated lever 21. by suitable joints 22, forming a pair of toggle joints therewith.

The lever is pivoted to the journals 23, which journals bear a fixed relation to the vehicle frame 1.

By this arrangementthe friction wheel 7 may be slid longitudinally upon the splined shaft 3, across the flat inner faces of disc wheels 10, by manipulation of the lever 21.

The contraction coil springs 24, are provided. to normally hold the disc wheels 10,

Lacasse studs 26, lixed respectively to said rock arms. rlhe other or rear ends of said springs are attached to the journals 23 by the hooks 27, fixed respectively to said journals, said journals being mounted on the frame 1 in a fixed relation thereto.

The expansion coil springs 25, are providedk at the ends of the trunnions 12, to normally hold said intermediate disc wheels out of contact with the friction wheel 7, when the foot lever 15 is released, said springs being interposed between the collars 28 on the outer ends of the trunnions 12, respectively, and the rock arms 13. The collars 28 are retained on their respective trunnions in this relation by the pins 29, iixed in the extreme outer portions of said trunnions respectively.

The frictional ring 30 of; the friction wheel 7, is composed of suitable friction material and is clamped to said friction wheel by a metal ring 31 and screws 32.

When the vehicle is standing still, itis desirable to have the friction wheel 7 at the neutral point, in which adjustment the cylindrical surface of said friction wheel is shifted opposite and between the center portions of the intermediate disc wheels, respectively, as shown in Fig. 4by manipulation of the lever 21. wWhen the friction wheel 7 is in this position, the foot lever 15 is entirely released. The rock arms 13 are held back against the stop brackets 33, and the intermediate disc wheels 10 are thus held entirely out of contact with the ily wheel 4, and at the same time the expansionv coil springs 25 hold the vsaid disc wheels away from the friction wheel 7, by which adjustment the saidV disc wheels and the friction wheel 7, are rendered entirely inactive. The stop brackets 33 are in fixe relations to the frame 1.

In starting the vehicle on low forward speed, the foot lever 15, is pressed forward, which swings the rock arms 13 on their piv-` ots 14, and thereby presses the bevel or conical surfaces 34, of theintermediate disc wheels 10, into frictional contact with the interior conical surface 11, of the fly wheel 4, whereby motion is imparted to said disc wheels. By pressing suiiiciently hard on the foot lever 15, the intermediate disc wheels 10 are cammed sideways bywedge action at their points of contact with the fly wheel 4. This sideways movement causes said discr wheels to shift toward each other and into frictional contact with the cylindrical surface of friction wheel 7, due to the female character of the interior conical surface 11.

By a forward movement of the manually operated lever l2l, the friction wheel 7 is slid forward along on the drivenV spline shaft 3, at the beginning of which movement the cylindrical surface of said friction wheel being slightly in advance of the center portions of the disc wheels l0, is set in rotary motion by its frictional contact with said disc wheels and further forward movement close to the Hy wheel 4, the shaft 3 is then being rotated at nearly the speed of shaftV 2, whereupon the operator may release the foot lever l5, thereby throwing the disc wheels l0, out of operation and into the` same position as in neutral. Immediately afterwards the lever 2l may be further advanced, throwing the clutch portion 8, of the frictionV wheel 7 into direct` clutching engagement, with the Hy wheel 4, whereupon a direct drive is obtained by the adjustment shown in Fig. l, causing the said Afriction wheel 7 and said Hy wheel 4 to rotate in unison.

By sliding the friction wheel 7 to the opposite side of the centers of the disc wheels l0,4 the splined shaft 3 will be driven in a reverse direction to that of shaft 2, by the adjustment shown in Fig. l3, thereby en# abling the machine to be backed and the speed of the shaft y3 will be increased or diminished relatively to the'speed of the shaft 2, in accordance with the location of the points of contact ofthe friction wheels 7, with thevdisc wheels l0, between the center vand the periphery of saidV disc wheels, it being, lunderstood that lthe disc wheels l0, have been moved so as to fric tionally enga-ge both the Hy wheel 4 and the friction wheel 7, gthe same asin low forward speed. In'this reverse adjustment of the parts the connecting rods 18 are positioned in a somewhat folded relation to the karms V2O of the lever 2l, forming an angle therewith, `as shown in Fig. 7. This angle becomes greater as the friction wheel T is slid closer to the Hy wheel'4.V Whenr thel friction wheel7 has been shifted into direct clutching engagement with Hy wheelV 4, the connecting rods 18V are parallel to yarms 2O and the toggle formed therejwith isstraightened. When pressed slightly lbeyond this position the extensions 35 of the arms 20 bear against the studs 36,

This arrangement constitutes aself locking adjustment by which the vehicle may be propelled at high speed withoutattention i to the lever 21.

The interior conical surface 1l, ofthe `vHy wheel 4, and the external conical surfaces of intermediate disc wheels l0 need not be j exactly conical but preferably so.` Y

The motor 37A of thevehicle shown is lof y.the usual explosive type.V .The use of my inventionrv however, is vnotrestricted to anycertain type of motor. n universal joint coupling 38 is pro`` vided to `prevent thev disalignmentl offthe splined portion of the driven shaft 3.

I claim as my invention: v 'Y l. ln' a frictlonal transmlsslon mecha-v nism, the combination of va drive shaft,- a

drivingwheel fixed thereto and having an interior conical surface, circular revolvable disc wheels, eachY disc wheel-'having an external conical surface correspondingV with? the interior conical surface of said drivin wheell and adapted to be in contact there# with, a pivoted, frame rotatably supporting said disc wheels and adapted to carry said external conical surfaces into contact with said; interior conical surfaceV by manually oscillating movement and a spring working in opposition to said movement by which saidV external conicalv surfaces are `automatically held out of Contact with saidinterior conical surface when manual force isA not.

applied to said frame.

2.111 a lf rictionall transmission ,mechanlsm, the comb-inationof a drlving shaft, a`

driving, wheel 1non-slidably` fixed theretoV and having an interior conical surface, c ircular disc wheels revolvable about a line transverse to the axls of the driving wheel,

the. peripheral. edgeof each disc wheel be-V ing beveled to correspond with the interior conical surface of the driving wheelV and adapted to be in contact therewith, a friction wheel in axial alinement f with said drive wheel, a pivoted frame rotatably and slidably journaling said discvwheels and' adapted to carry said beveledV r surfaces against said. interior conical surface by `approaching oscillation of'said frame by which said disc wheels are cammed side ways pressing the Hat faces thereof in con-k i ftact withv said frictionV wheel, andj a spring acting in opposition to said .approaching` I Y oscillationv by 'which' said beveled surfaces are automaticallywithdrawn from vsaid. in.y

terior conical surface, thereby releasing the pressedcontact'of Vsaid Hatfaces withsaid disc wheels.

`3. In va frictional transm1ss1on-mecha nism, the combination of a -drivershaftf av driving wheel, revolvably fixed thereto and having ankinterior conical surface'interme diate disc wheels revolvable about a line l which are fixed in the connecting' rods .18. transverse to the axis -of thev driving wheel,

each'intermediate disc wheel having an external conical surface corresponding to the interior conical surface of said driving wheel and adapted to be in contact therewith, a driven friction wheellongitudinally shiftable along a splined shaft in line with the shaft of said driving wheel, means for bringing said interior conical surface into frictional contact with said external conical surfaces, and adapted to also simultaneously cam said disc wheels toward each other, thereby bringing the flat faces thereof into tangent contact with the periphery of said `friction wheel, and to also atthe same time and by the same camming action, interlock together said drive wheel, said disc wheels and' said friction wheel, in rotary frictional relation.

4. A frictional transmission mechanismV comprising a drive shaft, a. drive wheel fixed thereto and revolvable therewith and having an interior conical surface in its rim, a driven shaft in axial alinement therewith, a friction wheel slidably splined to I said driven shaft and rotatable therewith,

opposed intermediate disc wheels having peripheral beveled edges corresponding to said interior con'icalsurface and having flat faces toward said driven shaft and pivoted trunnions extending away from said driven shaft, an oscillatable U shaped frame pivoted at the ends thereof astride said driven shaft, the legs of said frame forming journals which slidably and rotatably receive said trunnions by which said frame is adapted by manual manipulation to swing said bevel edges into contact with said interior conical surface, thereby shifting said flat disc faces into contact with the periphery of said friction wheel and springs adapted to oppose said manual manipulation and automatically withdraw said disc wheels from contact with said interior conical surn face. Y

-5. In a frictional transmission mechanism, the combination of a motor shaft, a drive wheel fixed thereon and revolvable therewith, and having an interior conical surface in its rim, a driven shaft in axial alincment with said motor shaft, a clutch for connecting said shafts directly, opposed disc wheels having peripheral conical surfaces revolvable about an axial line transverse-to the motor shaft and mounted so as to be moved both transversely and longitudinally to their axes, a friction wheel keyed to and mounted to slide upon said driven shaft and adapated to rotate therewith, and means for bringing said interior conical surface intovfrictional contact with said peripheral conical surfaces, said means adapted to also simultaneously wedge said disc wheels toward each other against said interior conical surface thereby bringing the at faces thereof into frictional contact with the periphery of said friction wheel, said means adapted to also at the same time equalize and compensate the surface pressure of said frictional contacts and thus interlock together said drive wheel, said disc wheels and said friction wheel in rotary motion transmitting relation.

6. In a frictional transmission mechanism, the combination of a motor shaft, a drive wheel xed thereon and revolvable therewith, Vand having an` interior conical surface in its rim, a driven shaft in axial alinementwith said motor shaft, a clutch for connecting saidk shafts directly, opposed disc. wheels having peripheral conical surfaces, revolvable about an axial line transverse to the motor shaft and mounted so as to be moved both transversely and longitudinally to their axes, a friction wheel keyed to and mounted to slide upon said driven shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, means for pressing said peripheral conical surfaces of said disc wheels into frictional contact with said interior conical surface by extended approaching movement to said interior conical surface, said same pressing means adapted to also simultaneously wedge said disc wheels toward each other against said interior conical surface, thereby bringing the flat faces thereof into frictional contact with the periphery of said friction wheel, by said extended approaching movement said same pressing means adapted to also at the same time equalize and compensate the surface pressure of said frictional contacts by said extended approaching movement and thus interlock together said drive wheel, said disc wheels and said friction wheel in rotary motion transmitting relation.V

7. A frictional transmission mechanism,

combining a direct and friction drive, said mechanism including drive shaft, a drive wheel fast to said drive shaft in axial* relation thereto, said drive wheel having an interior concentric conical surface in its rim,

a driven shaft in end to end coaxial relation with said drive shaft, a clutch mechanism between said shafts serving to connect one with the other, opposed disc wheels one at each side of said driven shaft, and rotatable in a plane at lright angles to said drive wheel, the outer edge of said disc wheels respectively forming external conical surfaces adjacent to the interior conical surface of said drive wheel and adapted to bev foot lever, means for automatically withdrawing said disc wheels from wedged adjustment, said means consisting of springs acting against said foot lever to normally hold said disc wheels out'of use, and a friction wheel interposed between said disc wheels with its periphery adjacent to the fiat faces of saine, and adapted toreceive frictional contact thereof when said disc wheels are wedged toward each other, said friction wheel being sliiftable longitudinally on the said driven shaft and revolvable coaxially with said drive wheel and means for shifting said friction wheel longitudinally on said driven shaft.

8. A frictional transmission mechanism comprising a drive shaft. a drive wheel fixed thereto and reyolvable therewith and having an interior conical surface in its rim, opposed intermediate disc wheels. having perlpheral beveled edges corresponding to said interior conical surface and having flat faces toward said drive shaft and pivoted trunnions extending away from said drive shaft, an oscill'atable U shaped frame pivoted et the ends thereof, the legs of said frame forming journals which slidably and rotao' tably receivesaid trunnions by which said frame is adapted by manual manipulationy to swing said bevel edges into Contact with said interior conical surface, andsprings adapted to oppose said manual manipulation and automatically withdraw said disc wheels from contact with said interior con* ical surface.

9.'A frictional transmission mechanism,

combining a direct and friction. drive, saidl mechanism including a drive shaft, adrive wheel fast to said drive shaft in axial rela? tion thereto, said drive wheel .having an interior concentric conical surface in its rim, a driven shaft in end to end co-axial relation with said drive sha-ft, a clutch mechanism between said shafts, serving to connect one with the other, opposed disc wheels one atl each side of said driven shaft, and rotatable in a plane at right angles to said drive wheel, the outer edge ofthe. disc wheels respectively forming external conical surfaces adj jacent tothe interior conical surface of said same time be wedged toward eachother, A

inea'nsfor pressing said external conical sui'-V faces of said disc wheels into .tangent relation with the interior conical surface of said *Y drive wheel, said means includingf af pair of rock arms, fixed-'pivots therefor and a `connecting yoke member Vfor uniting same rand supporting a common 'foot lever and rock arm springs acting against, said footlever to normally holdY said disc wheels out in conjunction `with said rock` arm springs said means including coil springs encircling of use, means for automatically withdrawing said 4disc wheels from wedged Aadjustment Y 65 a the trunnions of said. disc wheels respec-` tively, and thrust collars and pins for retaininoi'same a friction wheel inter osed between saidvdiscl wheels with its periphery adjacent to the fiat faces of said disc wheels and adapted to receive frictionalv Contact thereof when said disc wheels are wed ed toward 'each other,rsaid friction wheel e,-,

ing shiftable longitudinallyVV on said driven shaft and revolvable coaXially ywith said drive wheel, `meansfor shifting said friction wheel -longitudinally on said driven shaft said means including a ring encircling the hub of said frictionwlieel and retained loosely thereon by a circular'groove, said Y,

ring j being provided with oAp-positely` v arranged pivots, la rhand lever pivoted at one end,l a pair of toggle lever sets the free end of which straddles said ring and correspondingly engages the pivotsY thereof, the other end of saidpair of toggle lever sets terminatingrin pivoted relationto said hand lever.

my hand on this .the 17 th day of'April A. D.,

1922. Y o i OWEN SPENCER.

lllitnesses: fr n CLARnNcn'W. BAKER, VCHARLESjHgMunras.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setV 

